Mechanism for feeding cardboard or the like from a pile or stack



Sept. 17, 1957 T. D. BISHOP 2,806,696

' MECHANISM FOR FEEDING CARDBOARD OR THE LIKE FROM A PILE 0R STACK Filed May 17, 1955 one. a o .0 O... '00. 000

INVENTOR THO/14 46 Off/"0N0 BISHOP United States Patent MECHANISM FOR FEEDIBIG CARDBOARD OR THE LIKE FROM A PILE OR STACK Thomas Desmond Bishop, Solihull, England, assignor to Deritend Engineering Company Limited, Birmingham, England, a British company Application Diary 17, 1955, Serial No. 508,983

Claims. (Cl. 27132) The present invention has relation to mechanism for feeding single sheets of cardboard from the bottom of a pile or stack as may be desirable when such sheets need to be treated individually in an associate machine for creasing or the like for the subsequent manufacture of cartons. The present invention is however particularly concerned with the feeding of cardboard and the like which may be of a stout character and of a considerable size, e. g. five feet by six feet and inch thick, which sheets may each weigh approximately lbs. and are usually surfaced with paper. The invention is however equally applicable to lighter sheets having fragile surface coverings and it will be appreciated that a stack of cardboard or the like may be of considerable weight and difiiculty has obtained in removing the lower cardboard or like sheet owing to the weight above and damage has occurred to the paper facing.

The present invention has for its object to provide a machine capable of accommodating a considerable stack of sheets of the aforesaid character and which is preferably of an adjustable character to accommodate stacks of sheets of differing sheet dimensions, the present invention having for its object to remove the lower sheet in expeditious and efficient manner without damage to any covering it may have or surface.

According to the present invention there is provided mechanism for individually feeding cardboard or like sheet from the bottom of a pile or stack comprising a table like structure wherein the stack may be placed, a longitudinal air conduit beneath the table and stack (when present), a blower connecting with the forward end of the air conduit for blowing air along the same away from a mechanical feed device and means for deflecting the air back against the rearrnost edges or parts of the sheets so that they become of a floating character whereby the lower sheet may be withdrawn as for instance by a mechanical suction feed such as that described in our Patent No. 2,331,533.

Further, according to the present invention there is provided mechanism for feeding cardboard or the like from a pile or stack comprising a table like structure having a peripheral wall wherein the stack may be accommodated and means for slightly raising the extreme end of the stack and for blowing a blast of air at the said extreme end of the pile so that not only are the sheets separated but the lower sheet is elevated or virtually released so that it can be withdrawn by suction or other known feed mechanism. The purpose of the invention is therefore releasing sheets from the weight of the pile above it so as to virtually float whereby the bottom sheet can be readily removed.

Still further according to the present invention there is provided mechanism for feeding cardboard or the like from a pile or stack comprising a table like structure having a wall surround wherein the stack may be comfortably accommodated and means for blowing a blast of air which is directed to the rear of the structure edgewise into the stack in such a manner that a part of the blast is directed on to the ends of the sheets and a part initially beneath and above the bottom sheet sothat the whole stack becomes more or less of a floating character in the confines of the wall permitting the lower sheet to be mechanically withdrawn by suction grip Without detriment to itself.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into practice reference may be had to the appended explanatory drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a feed mechanism for cardboard and the like constructed according to the present invention. h

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic transverse sectional elevation taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and Figs. 3 and 4 are further diagrammatic elevations showing stages in operation.

In a convenient embodiment of the present invention chine may be placed. At the forepart of this table like structure is a feed mechanism such as that described in our prior Patent No. 2,331,533 comprising a pivotal member 0 mechanically rockable and having a suction source 0 so that cardboard resting on c is gripped and initially fed as for instance into feeding rollers by rocking c. Provided on top of the table are three adjustable vertical walls, d and f, all three walls being slidable, the two side walls d being associated with nuts d which gear with cross screws d so that these side walls may be adjusted by handles d to suit the width of the cardboard.

The front end wall e is permanent and the rear end wall 1. is itself slidably adjustable forwardly and rearwardly spacing pieces f being utilised to fit between the adjustable side walls d. Beneath the table a and at the forepart thereof is provided a blower g which connects at g with the front extremity of a broad flat conduit g which runs centrally the length of the table. The rear wall f however is provided with a small bridge f slightly elevated from the plane of the table a and it is also provided with a conduit f of semi-circular or equivalent section behind the bridge f and the arrangement is such that air is blown along the conduit g and is then directed primarily between the extremities of the cardboard sheets b and particularly above the bottom sheet, see Fig. 2. g is an electric motor for driving the blower g.

In this manner all the sheets of a stack or pile are virtually airborne and the structure is relieved of the main load of the stack by air passing between the sheets, and in this manner the lower sheet can be readily withdrawn by the feed mechanism without detriment to its surface.

The rearmost wall 1 has a longitudinal semicircular cavity f and a bridge member 1 provided upon which the extremities of the sheets b may rest, see Fig. 2, in a slightly elevated position the cavity f directing the air blast between the sheets a from their extremities to separate them, see Fig. 3, and virtually cause them to float. air passing also beneath and particularly above the lower sheet by virtue of its raised extremity on f the air leaving through apertures a in the table top a whereon the sheets rest a large air outlet a being also provided at the front of the machine. The bottom sheet b is then drawn forward by the suction feed c until it drops onto the table, as shown in Fig. 4 to seal or substantially seal the apertures a a in the table when the main stream of air passing beneath the bridge is now directed above the bottom sheet, thus separating the bottom sheet from the pile so that it can be withdrawn without damage to the surface or paper covering, as shown particularly in Fig. 4. It is to be appreciated that by placing the blower g and air entrance g at the front or feed end of the machine it is always permanently in that position and adjustment can be eflected by sliding the back wall 1 on the Patented Sept. 17, 1957 table top and extending its longitudinal passage g by plates a In this manner the machine is well adapted for ready adjustment for difiering sizes of sheets as is neces s'ary to suit particular requirements. However," other blower situations may be provided as hereinbefo're' stated.

In a modification of the present invention, however, instead'of mounting the blower at the forepart ofthe structure means may be provided for mountingthe blower at the rear or sides so that an air blast is providedfor thepurpose of this invention at the rear of the pile or the sides or both. i

I claim:

l. A mechanism for feeding individualcardboard or like sheets from the bottom of a stack comprising a'member having a supporting surface having end and side walls extending upwardly therefrom" to provide an enclosure adapted to contain said stack, a conduit, means to supply air under pressure to said conduit, means-connected to said conduit and positioned at one end of said enclosed to direct air both above and below the lowermost sheet of said stack, passage means leading from beneath said lowermost sheet to conduct air therefrom, and aplurality of apertures in said member through said supporting surface forming a part of said passage means, said apertures being located in the path of movementof the lowermost sheet of the stack so as to be closed by said sheet during withdrawal thereof from the bottom of the stack.

2. A mechanism for feeding individual cardboard or thelike sheets as defined in claim 1 wherein the means to supply air under pressure comprises an electrically driven blower.

3. A mechanism for feeding individual cardboard or the like sheets as defined in claim 1 wherein the side walls" and one of the end walls are adjustable to vary the size ofthe enclosure to accommodate diife'rent size sheets.

4. A mechanism for feeding individual cardboard or the like sheets from the bottom ofa stack comprising a member having a supporting surface having end and side walls extending upwardly therefrom to provide an en-' closure adapted to contain said stack, a longitudinal air conduit positioned beneath said supporting surface, a blower; connected to said conduit to supply air under pressure thereto, deflection means formed in one end wall of said enclosure connected to said conduit to direct air both above and below the lowermost sheet of said stack, passage means leading from beneath said lowermost sheet to conduct air therefrom, and a plurality of apertures in said member through said supporting surface forming a part of said passage means, said apertures being located in the path of movement of the lowermost sheet of the stack so as to be closed by said sheet during withdrawal thereof from the bottom'of the stack.

5. A mechanism for feeding individual carboard or like sheets from the bottom of a stack comprising a member having a supporting surface having end and side walls extending upwardly therefrom to provide an enclosure adapted to contain sa'id' stack, a conduit, means to supply air under pressure to said conduit, rest means for sup supporting surface forming a part of said passage means, I

said apertures being located in the path of movement of the lowermost sheet of the stack so as to be closed by said sheet during withdrawal thereof from the bottom of the stack.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,897,641 1,942,527 Winkler Jan. 9, 1934 1,945,248 'Winkler Jan. 30, 1934 1,948,362- Staude Feb. 20, 1934 2,011,464 Winkler Aug. 13, 1935 2,331,533

Bishop Oct. 12, 1943 Pfla nze Feb. 14, 1933 

